Dilkaya Höyük
Dilkaya Höyük · Dilkaya
Early Bronze III – Urartian (2700–600 BCE)·Van–Urmia EB–Urartian·🇹🇷 Van Province, Edremit Plain, Turkey
About
About Dilkaya Höyük
Dilkaya Höyük in Van Province, Edremit Plain, Turkey is a Early Bronze III – Urartian (2700–600 BCE) tell of Van–Urmia EB–Urartian tradition. Lakeshore cemetery bridging Early Bronze red-black to Urartu. 2700 BCE, the site forms a stratified mound/karst mound 350×250 m, cemetery 2 ha, 8 m early bronze–urartian. Excavations since the mid-20th c. expose stone-cist and pit graves with red-black burnished ware, urartian pithoi architecture with diagnostic ceramics, lithics and administrative finds.
Archaeobotany and radiocarbon anchor the sequence, informing regional Van–Urmia EB–Urartian networks across the Van Province. Threats include agricultural encroachment, erosion, looting; research continues on Van–Urmia EB–Urartian chronology.
Why it mattersType-site for Van–Urmia EB–Urartian Early Bronze III – Urartian (2700–600 BCE) in Van Province, Edremit Plain; key for chronology, technology and interaction.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology of Van–Urmia EB–Urartian levels?
- 02Function of extramural cemetery?
Theories
- 01Demic diffusion vs local adoption
- 02Ritual aggregation centre
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.2700 BCE
- Period
- Early Bronze III – Urartian (2700–600 BCE)
- Culture
- Van–Urmia EB–Urartian
- Purpose
- Lakeshore cemetery bridging Early Bronze red-black to Urartu
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
c.2700 BCE
Initial construction / first occupation
c.1200 BCE
Major expansion / fortification phase
20th c.
Systematic excavation begins
On the ground
Structures & features
38.3700° N · 43.3200° E · 1720 m · 3 mapped features
Dilkaya Höyük — Central Mound
tellCentral mound with stratified architecture Levels I–IV
38.3704° N · 43.3205° EDilkaya Höyük — Lower Town Workshop
workshopWorkshop/midden with pottery, slag or lithics
38.3694° N · 43.3194° EDilkaya Höyük — Cemetery/Gate
cemeteryExtramural cemetery or gate area
38.3702° N · 43.3192° E